Author: Joe Mason

Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa Police Department is investigating a homicide after a man was fatally shot early Sunday morning outside the Trade Winds Central Inn on East Skelly Drive. According to police, officers responded around 1:54 a.m. on May 17 to reports of a shooting in the north-side parking lot of the hotel located at 3141 E. Skelly Drive. When officers arrived, they found a 28-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds in the parking lot. The victim was transported to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Investigators said multiple shell casings were recovered from the scene…

Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa Fire Department in Oklahoma has begun a three-day Swiftwater Boat Operations training course aimed at improving water rescue response capabilities for multiple fire and rescue units. According to the department, Oklahoma Task Force 1 Program Manager and Rescue Coordinator Captain Matt Bell is leading the training for members from Station 4, Station 5, Station 29, and OK-TF-1. Officials said the first phase of the course focuses on classroom instruction, where firefighters are learning about hydrology hazards, boat safety, and mechanical boat operations, including maintenance and equipment readiness. Next week, crews will move into hands-on water…

Tulsa, OK — The Tulsa Fire Department took part in a construction site safety stand down held at an air traffic control tower project as part of Construction Work Site Safety Week, according to officials. The event was hosted by Flintco, which invited fire department personnel to participate in safety training focused on job site hazards and prevention measures. Officer Bryan Runyan, a Community Risk Reduction Officer with the Tulsa Fire Marshal’s Office, delivered a presentation addressing fire and life safety practices on active construction sites. Officials said the training was intended to reinforce safety awareness among construction workers and…

Tulsa, OK — A burglary suspect was arrested after allegedly breaking into a Dollar General store and leaving behind a cell phone that helped officers identify him, according to the Tulsa Police Department. Officers with the Mingo Valley Division responded early Sunday, May 3, 2026, at approximately 3:49 a.m. to a burglary in progress at a store near 31st Street and Mingo Road. Investigators said a security company monitoring live surveillance footage observed a suspect using a pickaxe to break through the front glass before entering the store and taking items from behind the counter. The suspect then fled the…

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect believed to be responsible for a series of vehicle break-ins and acts of vandalism over the past 90 days in the area near 51st and Memorial. According to police, the subject is believed to be responsible for at least 13 vehicle break-ins and multiple incidents of vandalism. On April 20, 2026, the individual was reportedly seen burglarizing three vehicles at Avia Apartments near 41st and Memorial, as well as damaging a business near 31st. Authorities released images of the suspect and are encouraging anyone…

Tulsa, OK – On March 17, 2025, around 1:00 a.m., a Tulsa Police officer on patrol discovered a light pole lying in the southbound lanes of Riverside Drive, near 3500 S. Riverside Drive. At the same time, the officer observed a white Dodge van traveling at a low speed, showing signs of collision damage. The officer stopped the van near 41st and Riverside, where they noticed broken windows, missing hubcaps, and broken mirror pieces that appeared to match the debris found near the downed light pole. The driver, identified as Kenneth Kinnard, admitted to hitting a curb but was uncertain about…

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Police Homicide Detectives are seeking 19-year-old Angel Ibarra in connection with a recent homicide. The Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General is offering a reward of up to $8,000 for information leading directly to his arrest. The incident occurred on 8 February 2025, around 1:30 a.m., at an apartment complex near 11800 E. 21st, where four teenagers were shot in what appeared to be an ambush. Two 18-year-olds, Arturo Degollado and Jett Brummett, died at the scene. The other victims, aged 18 and 19, were hospitalized with gunshot wounds. Christopher Atjun, 18, turned himself in earlier this…

Tulsa, OK – Officers with the Tulsa Police Mingo Valley Street Crimes unit arrested a known serial fraud suspect, Roger Pineda, following a traffic stop in north Tulsa. During the arrest, detectives from the Tulsa Police Financial Crimes Unit interviewed Pineda and discovered he was in possession of hundreds of pieces of stolen mail, tax returns, checks, and counterfeit IDs. Pineda also had tools commonly referred to as “fishing tools,” used to steal mail from blue postal boxes. Investigators found that the stolen mail had been taken in the week leading up to the arrest, from locations across Tulsa. Based…

Officials with Champaign Unit 4 Schools said the district will move to full remote learning starting November 16. In a news release, officials said the decision came after guidance was issued by the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. The health department recommended K-12 school districts switch to or keep remote learning in place until January 5. Administrator Julie Pryde added the transition should be made “as soon as possible.” Champaign Schools officials said Friday will be the last day of in-person instruction for students. They will remain remote through the end of the semester. Transportation will be available for students on…

Police are investigating a shooting that killed a 16-year-old boy. It happened Thursday evening on Eureka Street by 6th Street around 5:17 p.m. Police found the teenager on the scene with a gunshot wound. He was rushed to the hospital but didn’t survive. Investigators say they think the boy was with others inside a home when someone fired shots into the home, hitting him. When police got there, more shots were fired but no one else was hit. Police are working the crime scene and interviewing possible witnesses. No one has been arrested. The investigation continues and future updates may be…

This is the 35th year of the St. John’s Breadline Sunday fundraiser. However, officials said this year they will not have any bread. Becki Doolin, co-coordinator of the fundraiser, said usually many volunteers show up to help unload, pack and distribute 8,000 bread loaves to area churches. Those loaves are then sold to congregations for $4 a loaf and the proceeds go back to the St. John’s Breadline, which serves hot meals to the community. Officials said bread is the symbol of life and sharing. For that reason, they chose it to be their “fundraising vehicle” and it continues today…

Illinois Republicans renewed their calls for the investigative hearings into speaker Michael Madigan to continue. Lawmakers are scheduled to return to Springfield for fall veto session next week. It’s still unclear if, or when, the special investigative committee plans to meet. The committee had been investigating ComEd’s attempts to bribe the Speaker. Madigan has denied wrongdoing. A Representative says the one witness who did testify, contradicted the speaker’s claims in a letter. “Mike Madigan gave a very weak excuse in a letter. It was not under oath,” says Rep. Deanne Mazzochi. “And we’ve already gathered evidence that contradicts or undermines…

Citing a rise in Coronavirus infections, Democratic leaders of the Illinois General Assembly canceled the upcoming fall veto session that was scheduled to begin next week. In a Tuesday afternoon email to House Democrats, Speaker Michael Madigan’s chief of staff Jessica Basham said most members were reluctant to gather in person and the idea to cancel was “primarily motivated by concerns about the rising COVID-19 rates and proximity to upcoming holidays.” Earlier this year, state lawmakers wore face coverings and spread out in the Capitol Complex and at the Bank of Springfield Convention Center to pass the budget and a…

The University of Illinois Board of Trustees approved a $6.74 billion budget for fiscal year 2021. In a news release, officials said the budget for the fiscal year that runs through June 2021 was down $232.9 million from last year’s budget of $6.97 billion. “The U of I System will draw on an additional $121.3 million in reserve funds to help meet expenses anticipated to combat COVID-19.” Officials also stated they project the U of I System will “incur more than $270 million on negative impacts during the fiscal year due to the pandemic.” Trustees also approved a request for…

The Ford County Health Department (FCPHD) has announced 71 new cases of coronavirus. These new cases are being reported for the period of November 5 through November 9. Ford County has a total of 396 cases. Of those, 279 are confirmed cases. There have been 17 COVID-19 related deaths. Follow us for more updates. Thank You for your time. Have a good day.

Saying there is “no time to waste,” Gov. JB Pritzker commended some East Central Illinois leaders for their response to COVID-19 and chided others for allowing the virus to “infect their constituents because they’re afraid of the few, loud anti-maskers.” “When this is over, there will be an accounting by your constituents of who worked to keep it right,” he said during Thursday’s COVID-19 briefing. “The rest of us will still do our jobs. The state will do all they can to help hospitals serve their capacity and find additional staff. Health care workers will take up their posts on…

The number of people going to the hospital because of COVID-19 is climbing. Doctors and nurses can barley keep up while putting their own health at risk. Here’s the situation. As of Thursday there are more than 1200- people in the hospital with COVID-19 in Iowa. Illinois has 5,200 hospitalized with the virus. In our area Genesis Health System is caring for 110 COVID patients. That’s a new record. Unity Point is caring for nearly 80 patients. They’ve had to cancel elective surgeries to make more room. Local 4 News spoke to Dr. Mussasir Ashraf, who works at Unity Point…

At 18-years-old, Adam Aaronson had a crossword puzzle published in the Saturday edition of The New York Times back in January — it included words that had never been used before in the puzzles. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to create a crossword puzzle in The New York Times, The 21st hears about that process from a University of Illinois student who’s had puzzles published there and in the Wall Street Journal. Guests: Adam Aaronson, sophomore at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise across Illinois, health officials in Champaign County are recommending that people take additional precautions to prevent the spread. On Thursday, several Champaign-Urbana leaders shared that new recommendations are coming to local schools, faith-based organizations, and gatherings. Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) Health Administrator Julie Pryde said new recommendations include: All K-12 schools should switch to remote learning through Jan. 5. All faith-based organizations should transition to remote services only. Bars and restaurants should be following all mitigation efforts put forth in Tier 1 mitigations. People should refrain from gathering for the…

A Champaign lawyer who pleaded guilty to having cannabis plants in his home will have to pay a street-value fine of $9,060. Judge Randy Rosenbaum determined the fine that Andrew Allen, 55, must pay after his attorney, Jim Dedman, and Assistant State’s Attorney Kristin Alferink could not agree on an amount. Allen pleaded guilty Sept. 11 to possession of fewer than 50 cannabis plants, admitting he was growing them in his home on Bridgestone Drive on Aug. 20, 2019. He was sentenced to two years of first-offender probation, meaning he’ll have no record of a conviction if he successfully completes…